The network on Saturday announced that it has renewed the freshman series “Empire” after only two episodes.

In addition, Fox announced that it has awarded “Gotham” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” with second and third seasons respectively. The news came during Fox’s executive session at the Television Critics Association Press Tour.

The early pick-up for “Empire” was somewhat of a surprise, given that broadcast networks traditionally wait much longer to make a decision on a show’s fate. On the other hand, the early ratings for “Empire” have been extraordinarily good.

In its premiere episode, the hip-hop drama starring Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson tied “How to Get Away With Murder” as the most-watched new show of the season among viewers 18-49. In its second week, “Empire” drew 10.3 million viewers and a 4.0 rating among the prized 18-49 demographic, a 5 percent increase.

That was highly encouraging for Fox, considering that most shows generally tend to experience a ratings drop-off in Week 2.